Fine wine has a language all its own — one that helps every purchase, every sale and every conversation be more informed. Whether you are new to collecting or already deeply familiar with this world, this guide explains the terms you are most likely to encounter in lot descriptions, catalogues and account settings.
For auction bidding, settlement and delivery terms, you may also wish to explore our related articles.
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How to use this guide
When considering a lot, it is helpful to read several elements together:
- age of the wine
- fill level
- bottle size
- label condition
- capsule condition
- packaging
- provenance notes
No single detail tells the full story. A bottle with light cosmetic wear may still be highly desirable if provenance is strong, while a pristine label is no guarantee of perfect storage history. The richest understanding comes from reading the full lot description with care, and considering how these factors work together.
Auction and buying terms
| Lot |
A single item, or several items grouped together, offered as one for a single price. A lot may include:
Lots are sold as listed and cannot be divided after sale. |
| Estimate per bottle | The expected price range for a lot, expressed per bottle unless otherwise stated. Estimates are based on historical sales, current market conditions and availability — offered as a guide only, not a guaranteed outcome. |
| Bid | An offer of a specified amount for a lot during an auction. At LANGTONS, bids are generally placed per bottle, except where the listing notes otherwise (for example, for sets, barrels or other non-standard formats). |
| Current bid | The highest bid currently placed on a lot, in real time. |
| AutoBid | Allows you to enter the maximum amount you are willing to pay for a lot. The system bids on your behalf, only as required, up to your nominated maximum. |
| Passed in | A lot is passed in when bidding does not reach the Seller's reserve. A passed-in lot may later be offered through a second chance process, where eligible bidders or watchers may be invited to acquire the lot at reserve. |
| Reserve | The minimum price at which a lot may be sold. Reserves are confidential and are not published. |
| Buyer’s Premium |
The fee LANGTONS charges on successful auction purchases. Charged at a rate of 18% (inc. GST), of the final Hammer Price. |
| Vendor Commission |
The fee paid by the Seller to LANGTONS for the sale of wine through auction. Charged at a rate of 15% (inc. GST) of the final hammer price, or a minimum of $6 per bottle (Minimum Handling Fee), whichever amount is greater. |
| Hammer Price | The final successful bid for a lot, before the Buyer's Premium is added or Vendor Commission is subtracted. |
| GST | GST is included in the Buyer's Premium. Where GST also applies to the Hammer Price, this is identified in the catalogue or lot listing. |
| Auto shipping | When selected, LANGTONS will dispatch your eligible auction purchases on the next business day after the auction closes. |
| Consolidated shipping |
When selected, LANGTONS will automatically group eligible auction purchases for dispatch every 30 days, calculated from the oldest unshipped invoice in your account.
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| Storage |
If a shipping option is not selected, LANGTONS may hold eligible auction purchases in our temperature-controlled facility. Calculated at $0.40 per bottle, per month. |
Ullage and fill levels
Ullage — sometimes called the fill level — describes the level of wine in a bottle, and offers one window into a wine's condition.
Wine is naturally lost over time through evaporation. The ullage level offers useful insight into how a wine has been stored and cared for across its life.
Where no ullage note appears in the lot description, the bottle is generally considered to have a fill level within the normal acceptable range for its age and style, unless otherwise stated.
Why ullage matters
Fill level should always be considered in the context of:
- the wine’s age
- bottle shape
- rarity
- storage history, where known
For example, a fill level that may be acceptable in a 40-year-old Burgundy could be considered poor in a much younger wine.
Freight and storage considerations
Bottles with low ullage, signs of seepage or compromised closures may carry a higher risk of leakage during transit or extended cellaring. Buyers may wish to take this into account when bidding on mature wines or bottles with lower fill levels.
Bordeaux-style bottle fill levels
These descriptions apply to Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Penfolds Grange and similar bottle shapes.
| Base of neck | very minimal reduction. An excellent fill level for any wine 10 years or older. |
| Just below base of neck | minimal reduction. A very good fill level for any wine 15 years or older. |
| Very high shoulder | a slight natural reduction. A good fill level for any wine 15 years or older. |
| High shoulder | a normal fill level for Bordeaux-style wines 20 years or older. |
| Mid-high shoulder | natural reduction through easing of the cork and evaporation. Buyers may wish to inspect carefully or request a condition report where available. |
| Mid-shoulder | some weakening of the cork and an increased chance of oxidation. Not unusual in wines over 50 years, and estimates generally reflect this. Bottles from important older vintages may still appeal as collector pieces. |
| Low-mid shoulder | a high chance of oxidation; estimates are generally lower. |
| Low shoulder | a pronounced loss of fill, with a significantly increased chance of oxidation or leakage. |
Burgundy, Rhône and Riesling-style fill levels
These definitions apply to Burgundy, Rhône, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and similar bottle shapes. Because these bottles have more sloping shoulders, fill levels are measured in centimetres between the base of the cork and the wine.
| 2cm or less | an excellent fill for wines of any age. Generally does not need to be noted. |
| 3cm or better | a normal fill for wines 10 years or older; excellent for wines 25 years or older. |
| 4cm | a normal fill for wines 15 years or older; excellent for wines 35 years or older. May be a consideration in wines 15 years or younger. |
| 5cm | not uncommon in wines 30 years or older. Some consideration warranted. |
| 6cm or more | a poor fill level for any wine, unless the wine is extremely rare. |
Bottle size names
The most common bottle sizes and their equivalent volumes:
| Size Name | Description | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Half Bottle | Equals half a regular bottle | 375 ml |
| Bottle | A regular bottle | 750 ml |
| Magnum | Equals 2 bottles | 1,500 ml |
| Marie-Jeanne (Bordeaux) | Equals 3 bottles | 2,250 ml |
| Tregnum (ports, spirits or older formats) | Equals 3 bottles | 2,250 ml |
| Double Magnum | Equals 4 bottles | 3,000 ml |
| Jeroboam (Sparkling/Burgundy) | Equals 4 bottles | 3,000 ml |
| Jeroboam (Bordeaux) | Equals 6 bottles | 4,500 ml |
| Rehoboam (Sparkling/Burgundy) | Equals 6 bottles | 4,500 ml |
| Imperial (Bordeaux) | Equals 8 bottles | 6,000 ml |
| Methuselah (Sparkling/Burgundy) | Equals 8 bottles | 6,000 ml |
| Salmanazar (Sparkling/Burgundy) | Equals 12 bottles | 9,000 ml |
| Balthazar (Sparkling/Burgundy) | Equals 16 bottles | 12,000 ml |
| Double Imperial (Bordeaux) | Equals 16 bottles | 12,000 ml |
| Nebuchadnezzar (Sparkling/Burgundy) | Equals 20 bottles | 16,000 ml |
Why bottle size matters
Bottle size can influence rarity, collectability, drinking evolution, storage and shipping considerations, and value. Larger formats are often sought after by collectors and may attract stronger interest depending on producer, provenance and condition.
Label condition terms
The condition of a wine's label is considered when determining value. LANGTONS makes every effort to describe label condition accurately and with care.
| Minor label damage | small marks, scuffing or a slight tear. |
| Damaged label | more noticeable imperfections, such as large nicks, tears or scrapes. |
| Badly damaged label | used only for severe issues, such as major portions of the label being damaged or missing, or the label being unreadable. |
Why label condition matters
For collectible wines, label condition may influence presentation, market value, buyer confidence, and suitability as a gift or display bottle. For some rare drinking stock, label condition may matter less than for pristine collector examples — but it remains an important part of valuation.
Wine closure types
Wines sealed under cork typically have a sleeve or capsule covering the top of the bottle. In addition to being decorative, the capsule helps protect the cork beneath.
| Wax capsule | the original capsule is wax rather than metal or plastic. Common on larger formats and certain traditional bottlings. |
| Screw cap | an alternative closure consisting of a metal cap that screws onto threads on the neck. |
| Vinlock (Vino-Seal) | a glass stopper closure with a plastic seal. |
| Missing capsule | no capsule present. Wines without the original capsule, but with a branded cork, may still be offered for sale. |
Wine closure condition terms
As with labels, the condition of the capsule or closure is taken into account when determining value.
| Minor capsule damage | small nicks, tears or scrapes. |
| Damaged capsule | capsules soiled or damaged by dust, dirt, humidity or water. |
| Badly damaged capsule | used only for severe issues, such as a major portion of the capsule being damaged or missing. |
Why closure condition matters
Closure condition offers clues about storage environment, the likelihood of seepage, handling history and the chance of oxidation or leakage.
Packaging descriptions
| Original case | wines packed in the original case supplied by the winery. |
| Original presentation box | wines packed in the original cardboard presentation box. |
| Original timber case | wines packed in the original timber case supplied by the winery. |
Why packaging matters
Original packaging may enhance presentation, provenance, collectability and resale value. This is especially relevant for high-profile wines, special releases and larger formats.
Special mentions and provenance notes
| Signed by 'winemaker' | the bottle or label has been signed by the winemaker. Noted in the lot description where applicable. |
| Penfolds Wine Clinic | wines assessed through the Penfolds recorking program. See Penfolds Recorking Clinics below. |
| Jimmy Watson Trophy | a prestigious award for the best one-year-old dry red wine at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show. |
| Henschke Quality Assurance Program | an in-house recorking program for older bottles of Henschke red wines still held by C. A. Henschke & Co. The program is conducted by Henschke in conjunction with LANGTONS Fine Wine Auctions. |
| Anders Josephson Collection | wines originating from the Anders Josephson Collection. Named collections offer additional confidence regarding ownership history, storage and collectability. |
| Export labelling | labels, packaging or bottle markings produced for sale in an export market rather than the wine's domestic market. May differ in language, design, importer details or regulatory information. This does not necessarily indicate any difference in the wine itself. |
| High risk | a wine with an elevated level of uncertainty due to factors such as low fill level, condition, age, seepage, closure concerns or signs of possible deterioration. |
| Vintage is disgorgement date | used for sparkling wines where the stated year refers to the disgorgement date rather than the original vintage of harvest. Worth reading carefully — the date shown may indicate when the wine was disgorged, not when the grapes were harvested. |
Penfolds Recorking Clinics
Penfolds wines aged 15 years or older may be assessed, topped up, recorked and recapsuled at biannual wine clinics held in state capitals in conjunction with LANGTONS auctions.
Bottles in acceptable condition receive back labels signed by a Penfolds winemaker, certifying that the wine has been topped up and recorked under proper supervision.
Clients are strongly advised not to acquire Penfolds Grange without a company capsule.
For more information, please see the Penfolds Re-corking clinic website.
Suggested articles
- The art of bidding at LANGTONS
- AutoBid: bidding with intention
- Auction purchases: when a remedy may apply
- Entrusting your wines to LANGTONS
Need assistance?
Whether you are discovering a single bottle or building a cellar, our specialists are here to guide you. To save time, share your enquiry through our Customer Experience contact form and we will be in touch shortly.
You are also welcome to speak with your Private Client Manager, or call 1300 946 347.